Mark Jimenez sues wife, kin for estafa

(Updated 6:23 p.m.) Former Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez on Monday filed more cases against his wife and other family members, this time for alleged acts of estafa. Jimenez accused his wife Caroline Crespo, their son Marcel and the ex-congressman's sister-in-law, Ma. Carolina Crespo, Rosemarie Flaminiano and two others of selling his estate at the posh Forbes Park subdivision in Makati City without his consent. In a complaint-affidavit before the Makati Prosecutor's Office, Jimenez's lawyer Frank Chavez also identified Brenda Heffron, Isabel Gonzalez, Geraldine Crespo and Geraldine Antonio in the case. The other estafa charge, filed before the Manila Prosecutor's Office, was over Jimenez's allegations that his wife and other relatives failed to pay him proceeds of a contract with the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Jimenez, or Mario Crespo in real life, said the respondents unlawfully sold his house at 6 Intia St., Forbes Park, Makati City for P118 million. "They all wanted my money. In fact, even before I left for the United States in 2000 to 2002, my family hated my philantrophic ways. When I went to prisons, they found a way to get to my wealth. The only message that I want to send to my family is the revelation of the truth," Jimenez said in his affidavit. The former lawmaker insisted that he was the rightful owner of Clarion Realty and Development Corp., which was formed to acquire the contested property. The sale was allegedly undervalued and the money used did not pass through the accounts or books of the corporation. According to Jimenez, Clarion only had P5 million in total capitalization and "simulated a loan" from Jimenez’s wife so that it could acquire the property. "Clarion, through its then president, Thomas K. Chua, purchased the subject property from a certain Gerardo Contreras for the amount of P117 million," Jimenez said. He said the deal was made without his approval and only knew about it upon his arrival from imprisonment in the US. Jimenez was charged with making illegal contributions to the campaign of former US president Bill Clinton and other Democrats. Jimenez alleged that Marcel terrorized Caroline, saying his son told her that the Internal Revenue Services were after their properties. Fearing this, Caroline transferred her nominal shares in Clarion to their relative, Geraldine Antonio. However, Jimenez claimed that he owned 100 percent of Clarion and that the registered stockholders such as his wife were not financially capable of such purchases. Clarion was eventually sold to Philmetro Southwest Enterprise Inc. while the proceeds of the sale were allegedly spread out to the different corporations, including Camayamig Inc. and Becali Inc., established by Caroline and her sister. "Indeed, this fraudulent and malevolent act would not have been possible if not for their participation. The corporations which they helped established were used to launder and hide the proceeds of the above-mentioned sale," said Jimenez. Meanwhile, Jimenez again filed estafa his wife Caroline, and his in-laws, Evangeline Castañeda, Magdalena Cunanan, Rosemarie, and Jonathan Flaminiano before the Manila Prosecutor’s Office. Jimenez identified Cunanan as an incorporator and stockholder of Camayamig Inc. while Gonzalez is an incorporator and stockholder of Becali Inc. According to a radio report, the former lawmaker claimed to have lost about P43 million to CSF Computer Network Inc., which is owned by the Flaminianos, his wife's kin. Caroline's family allegedly convinced him to invest on the Commission on Election voter's ID for the May 14 elections. After Jimenez covered the P42.3 million in operational costs as well as the debt CF incurred, they agreed that he will get 90 percent of the total earnings from the contract. However, he allegedly did not get any money after the Comelec paid P43 million and accused the Flaminianos of using the cash for themselves. Earlier, Jimenez filed criminal complaints against his three children for selling his stake in Meridian Telekoms Inc. to Smart Communications in 2004 without his consent. Jimenez had also forcibly brought Caroline to a drug rehabilitation center in Las Piñas City after she allegedly "got hooked" on drugs. Eight men took Caroline onboard a van in Makati City and brought her to the Silvercrest Foundation for supposed treatment. The Department of Justice has placed Jimenez's children under its watch list after charging them with estafa. Jimenez was the former Presidential Adviser for Latin Affairs during former President Joseph Estrada’s term and brokered several controversial big deals for the government. - GMANews.TV